STRANDING OF SHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20513, 1 June 1938, Page 5

STRANDING OF SHIP.

THE MASTER CENSURED COURT OF INQUIRY’S FINDING THIRD OFFICER'S CARELESSNESS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, May 31 A Marine Court of Inquiry was held to-day into the stranding of the Port Line motor-ship Port Swiint John at Lady Elliot Island, off the Queensland coast. She was refloated on May 22. The third officer, Robei t Nicholl, who was at tfie wheel at the time of the stranding, gave evidence that Captain William Lynd had allowed a Ihree degrees set against the vessel for a southerly current, which in ordinary circumstances should have kept the ship one mile and three-quarters off the reef, hut no allowance had been made for the flood tide, which happened to be very strong and grew stronger as the ship neared the Island. Tiie Court found that the stranding was due to tiie setting of too fine a course without making proper allowance for tidal influences, resulting in the vessel being one mile and a-half off her course when Captain Lynd went on the bridee and accepted the third officer's estimate of the position of the ship. The captain's action merited censure. The Court also found that the third officer was guilty of careless navigation in not taking sufficient bearings to verify the ship's position.

Captain W. 1,. Lynd, master of the Port Saint John on her maiden voyage, is in his first permanent command. He was formerly relieving captain of the Port Denison and later chief officer of the motor-ship Port Tjwnsville.